Plum Island beach Clean Up - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Plum Crazy · 03-28-2008, 05:53 PM

In all reality you can't place the blame on fishermen or beach goers.
The stuff comes in twice a day with the tides.
I'd say most of it comes from anywhere but the beach.
My guess is allot comes from big boats and most of it is just washed down the river and ends up here.
That is not to say that we do not have our share of slobs enjoying their day at the beach, but in general this is just everything the cat dragged in during the winter storms.
I tend to get a little over emotional about slobs on the beach.
I have no qualms confronting them.
But we really only can do what we can and that is show up for these things and get in thier face.
The general public is unbelievable!
I have found that the fishermen care more and will do more.
Not in this case.
I have had about a 2% response to this clean up. It's killing me.
Let me tell you this story and you can decide for yourself how far I will go to ensure our access.
I was just walking on Salisbury with a few empty bags, picking up trash. The dumpster was only a few yards from me.
This man and woman were walking their dog, they were heading off the beach.
I had a long way to go.
The man walks up to me and says "nice job you are doing here, while you are at it take this" he hands me his bag of dog poop!
I think I was slack jawed for 10 minutes!.
He was only a few yards from the dumpster.Going off the beach!
If I wasn't with my respected organization I think I would have had a mental breakdown.
But nope. I was cool. I offered him one of my trash bags and invited him to help us.
He turned me down flat. He had other things to do.
I wonder how he will feel in a few years when his dog can't crap on the beach anymore.
One other time I was fishing a stiff east wind in spotty rain.
I was there since 4 AM.
I was in heaven because I figured there will be no beach goers on a day like this.
STOOOPID ME. 10 AM and here they come.
With their silly umbrellas.
One family of about 5 comes down bringing everything but the kitchen sink.
They lasted about 15 minutes. Their umbrella turned inside out about 3 seconds after they tried putting it up.
They packed up and left.
They left the broken umbrella too.
I trudged over picked up their broken umbrella and followed them to the parking lot.
I got to their car and said "hey you forgot your umbrella"
He said "ya, it's trashed"
I said " "well if it's trash why did you leave it here on the beach? Do you always leave trash on our beach?"
He had no answer for me. He stood there dumbfounded.
I told him I would be more than happy to take HIS trash home and dispose of it myself.
He snatched the broken umbrella from me threw it in his car and slammed the door.
Hmmm I said to myself, these are the rich yuppies trying to stop ME from fishing my beaches. Hmmmm.

Plum Crazy · 03-28-2008, 05:55 PM

Man that was a long tirade. I don't even want to read it.
Sorry

LeCounts1099 · 03-28-2008, 06:03 PM

PC... I know exactly the type of which you write about above...

And it's the most infuriating thing you'll ever see! Nature is indeed many idiots' waste disposal dump!

We feel your pain!

C'mon N. Bostonians / N. Shore guys-- get down there & help out please!

Plum Crazy · 03-28-2008, 06:17 PM

Thanks Le Counts.
I have moved beyond the infuriation and focus only on what I can do.
I'll tell ya one thing though, I sleep very well after a day of beach cleaning.
It is food for my soul.
It gives me a chance to give back to something I love so much and get so much from.
I don't get so angry at the crap on the beach anymore. I just pick it up.
I have cleaned many beaches from Plum to Race in the last 10 years and I have heard every excuse known to man as to why people can't do it.
Hell I even worked every clean up one year in a leg cast.
I paid dearly each night, but it was worth it.
I have lost many hours of payable work time and sacrificed family and friends.
All to save our access. For me and for the future.
All I know is that when they close the beach for good it will not be because I didn't try.

GooGoo Man · 03-28-2008, 09:20 PM

I just saw this thread for the first time, I will be there with my son (7 yrs. old) & my wife, I also have a red ford f-350, if it is needed I would be happy to be the 3rd truck.

gone fishin · 03-28-2008, 09:39 PM

Glad to have you aboard - sent PM.

tattoobob · 03-29-2008, 02:46 PM

It was a great day we took a lot of junk off the beach, I filled my truck many times. I did have a small problem and basically limped home, thanks to everyone who showed up.